Vancouver police auction previews Thursday

A year's worth of unclaimed lost and stolen items up for grabs

You never know what you're going to find at the Vancouver police auction. ((CBC))

Vancouver's annual police auction takes place on Saturday and police say this year, as always, they have some very unusual items to sell.

To prepare for the sell off, the warehouse of Able Auctions in Coquitlam has been filled with bikes, jewelry, power tools, guitars, televisions and even toothbrushes.

"All the property you see here today is the result of investigation, whether it's found property or seized property or stolen property," said Ian Wightman, the manager of the Vancouver police property room,

But perhaps most interesting of all the items are seven full-sized mascots costumes of bunnies, bears and what looks like a squirrel.

Wightman said he has no idea how the costumes ended up in police possession.

"You know, I can't give you an answer. I'm going to guess they are found property —found in a lane somewhere, somebody had stolen them and thought it was a brainstorm of an idea, to take seven very large stuffed animals — but what are you going to do with them?"

But Wightman knows what he plans to do with them — sell them — along with hundreds of bikes, scooters, and even a commode chair.

The weekend auction is guaranteed to be wild, so he recommends the public preview the items on display on Thursday or Friday.

"There will be nothing left at the end of the day on Sunday," Wightman said.

The auction house is located at 1500 Loughheed Highway. There is no minimum bid, but there is a $10 registration fee for all bidders.

According to the Able Auction website, bicycles will be sold first on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. PT, then the rest of the merchandise on Sunday.